Has anyone put together than own replication of these type plans?

The cost is just too much for me knowing that I could do it for probably half the cost at the grocery store. I just need a plan.. Has anyone tried that? Did it work out for you?
I know one big purpose of these type plans is to have it done for you but I also have to look at finances.

I can't say I know too much about these plans, but I would think that if you had for breakfast a bowl of no-sugar type cereal w/ skim and fruit
Lunch/Dinner - Frozen Smart One/Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice - like bargoo recommended
I would also think that you could use Lean/Low salt soups etc.

I agree the Supermarkets are full of great options for every price range. I don't buy too many pre-packaged foods, but when I have, I've noticed that they've certainly come a long way.

Use 3FC for your accountability and you won't need to join anything. This has been great for me, although I'm only a few weeks in.

I was torn about trying to come up with my own version of the plan or join NutriSystem when I restarted this time. I decided to try it on my own, and have seen some success so far!
There are two grocery stores within 10 miles of my house, so I check their flyers online to see what sales are going on. One grocery store had Lean Cuisines at 5/$10 (normally $2.59-$3.19 each) this week, while the other had Progresso Light soups at 2/$4 (normally $2.39-$2.99 each). Luckily the stores are only 1/2 mile a part, so I was able to hit both stores. If you don't have the luck of having two stores in your area, you could still check the flyers and stock up whenever they have a sale. Both products normally go on sale every couple of weeks. I prefer Lean Cuisine over Smart Ones, because I do think the taste is better, but Smart Ones are regularly on sale as well. For breakfast I grab either breakfast bars or cereal with low fat milk. Sometimes I make a couple eggs, it's really the same as what they give you...

Amy, this may not be a problem for you at all but I know I was advised by my doctor to be aware of the sodium content of the various frozen meals. I can't recall off-hand right now which was the best but I had to read labels for the lowest sodium meals since I have such a problem with fluid retention. It's been several years since I've focused on those frozen meals but at the time I was fairly successful as long as I watched the sodium along with the calories.

But, as I said, sodium isn't a problem for everyone. They have come a long way in making those diet "tv dinners" tasty. (LOL...guess that shows my age but I still think of them as tv dinners!)

Good luck and much success in your process. I know that Schwan's foods are pricey but I like the flavor of their products and the handy nutritional info they have online. Plus, I like the convenience of preparation, too, but that can be said for most all of the supermarket frozen entrees, too.

I think at the end of the day it is very possible to lose weight economically by choosing food wisely with caloric intake consideration. It is just the convenience that has many of us using the pre-packaged, pre-planned approach which can be quite expensive. I do save costs though by avoiding the "counselor" type programs. I've been on so many of the plans (and some several times) that I can almost recite the classic program mantras now so I give myself the pep talks and save that cost.

One other thing I meant to mention. You can get on the sites and read the ideas where those on the program "flex." That's where they share grocery items they use to substitute for the pre-packaged items, etc. I think you'll find several good options using the search option for "flex" or "flexing" on the products websites.

Like Alwe74, I too am on "The Simple Diet" by Dr. A. It's so easy to follow and really no thinking involved. I purchased my whole weeks worth of food at a superchain store and it cost me $50.00. This includes my 3 shakes a day, 2 frozen meals and 5 fruits and veggies per day. I was spending $50.00 a week on just my junkfood lunches, now I'm eating for 7 days on the same amount $. And I'm down 8 lbs in 1 week! Saving money and losing weight, I love it!

Breakfast: Coffee with skim milk. Egg whites with jalapenos and a tsp of ketchup... ( get reduced sugar heinz ketchup)

Snack: Special K cereal bar, blueberry is the bomb! I would usually eat half at a time.. so i would have half between breakfast and lunch, and half between lunch dinner.

Lunch: Protein + Veggies

Dinner: Protein only! eat early, and drink a gallon of water.

Workout and this plan will work.. =] also I didn't exactly try replicating a plan.. just trying to eat my carbs early... which leaves only protein for dinner. Skim milk + special k bar+ veggies contain carbs.

For now I am definitely going to a different approach, totally. I think first you need a calorie count that will give you losses and won't be a shock to your body or make you feel sick.
I am very sure that the first couple of days will help me figure out what I need to buy to keep going and what I want to bring into the day.
I see the advantage of every diet out there but I also know what I need to have is a day off once a month, get my cravings out of the way and plan that one day off.
It does two important things...

1-It will reset the body's ability to lose again because weight loss does slow down every 4 weeks.
2-It is a day to psychologically look forward to and enjoy without guilt. It can be a certain Holiday you want off but of course it is 1 day and also to have foods you'd prefer to leave out of your days. At 1800 calories per day trust me I know I could eat some junk food like a small candy bar in there but I'd rather not do this unless the craving was considerably worse than expected and then I would be would count it against that 1800 cals./day.

SlimFast also makes a snack bar. I understand that it does back you off considerably, will invest in those as well as also try the optional meal bar as a shake sub to switch things up a bit.

This is my experiment week.It is composed of ideas to stay happy losing weight where I won't feel hungry or feel sick or make me want to stop. I'm buying small quantities of SlimFast to see if I like it, if it agrees with me and also to see if it fills me up and makes me feel full.

It's now 2 pm Sunday, Feb. 19th. I've had a SlimFast shake at 10:30 am, a banana at 1 pm and now ready for a second shake. I am not hysterically hungry at all. I feel good and no gastro symptoms so I'm pretty good with that.

Later on will go out and get a Boston Market chicken lunch for 550 cals. I also decided to treat myself to Fresco tacos for dinner at Taco Bell so you see I'm not suffering with day ONE. I also have 2 snacks yet so good, so far. It won't be this good in the future but I'm doing pretty good for now. My other option is to eat a diet dinner from the freezer which appears to be a good option and that may be a better idea after all so either way I can work out my own Plan and stick to it.

Just want to say that the shake definitely erased my need for sweets and chocolate so far. I am very surprised.

Yes, I have taken protein levels from some programs and mixed them with the calorie levels from other programs and had great success on my own. The only diet foods I might have is a frozen WW meal once in a while if I am on the run and have no time for anything else.

Once you get used to where your calories, protein, carbs, and fats should be, you can find a lot of flexibility and success. You can go a long way with learning portions and keeping track of calories.

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Calorie counting gave me a method to fix the madness.

A high protein, moderate carb balance gives me control over cravings.

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